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DeKalb High boys strut on stage for local charities

By STEPHEN HABERKORN - news@daily-chronicle.com

April 14, 2014

Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com

Caption

DeKalb High School senior Will Ferguson winks at the audience, flanked by friends, after finishing his dance performance of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” Friday night at DeKalb High School. Ferguson won the beauty pageant style competition.

Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com

Caption

DeKalb High School senior Will Ferguson is crowned 2014 Mr. DHS on stage in the auditorium Friday night. Seven senior guys competed for this years' title and showed their spirit, talent, formal wear, and answered questions before judges picked a winner.

DeKALB – Seven contestants competed for the title of Mr. DHS in the DeKalb High School auditorium Friday night, with proceeds going to charities selected by the participants.

The first runner-up was Evan Guest and the second runner-up was Augie Jesmer.

The other contestants were Dylan Hottsmith, Misha Ryzhov, Joey Oxnevad and Skyler Weishaar.

The emcees were Maddie Alger, Karina Lexa, Rachael West and Sophie Vivero.

The contestants, who were selected by their peers at DeKalb High School, competed in six categories: dance, casual wear, school spirit, talent, formal wear, and Q & A.

Ferguson said it was a great honor just to be in the competition and believes that he will represent his school well as Mr. DHS.

“I put a lot of hard work into it, everyone did. … Seeing the past ones, I wanted to get this. I really feel like I’m a good face for the high school. I’m well-rounded and I fit in every aspect of the stuff that I think makes a student,” said Ferguson.

He thought his well-received “Single Ladies” performance during the talent competition may have contributed most to his winning. Ferguson and two of his friends mimicked the famous Beyoncé video while dressed in tight black shorts and sleeveless shirts.

Ferguson, who participated in madrigals and acappella, said the most memorable part of the event for him was getting to perform a song he wrote.

During the Q & A portion of the competition, Ferguson identified Hope Haven as his charity and said what he’ll miss most from his time at DeKalb High School is the late starts and the teachers.

Judge Al Gonzales said that what elevated Ferguson was that he kept it pretty serious, demonstrated his talent early on and had a strong question and answer session.

“I liked that he had confidence. He was sure of himself. He also seemed like he knew where he was coming from. He wasn’t just saying what he thought was the right answer.”

The one thing that stood out the most for Gonzales during the evening, though, was the glow stick dance performed by Skyler Weishaar.

“I like anything that kind of breaks the mold and that was actually pretty rad,” he said.